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Book Club Questions

The Amber Keeper

1 - It felt to Abbie that a mistake she’d made in her past as
a teenager had ruined her life by damaging her relationship with her family. Is
this something we all suffer from on occasion, and how can it be resolved?

2 - Did Millie make the mistake of being too outspoken with
the Countess from the start, or was she right to stand up for herself?

3 - Could Stefan have done anything to prevent the Countess
from pursuing him, and do you think he encouraged her in any way?

4 - Was it sensible of Millie to take part in the
demonstration which ultimately sparked off the rumblings of revolution? And was
the Countess right to sack her for having done so, or was her attitude
symptomatic of what was happening in Russia?

5 - Would you describe Millie as naïve or courageous in the
way she handled the problem of being handed a child at the cost of her
reputation? What would you have done?

6 - Is it right to keep a secret which involves others, or
should we reveal all to our offspring, no matter what the consequences? Do you
think there are any lurking within your own family?

Forgotten Women

1 – Should the British government have given more help to
the International Brigade to support the Spanish against the fascist
dictatorship?

2 – Class was an issue in those days and affected the
relationship between Charlotte and Libby. Do you think it has changed in
today’s world?

3 – Charlotte’s reason for going to help the Spanish people
was partly because of her own experience of being bullied by her stepfather.
Did she have any other motivations, and was she wise to take such a risk with
her life?

4 – Libby was rather a complex and difficult character who
made many mistakes in her life. Was her behaviour justified? And did you like
or dislike her?

5 – Did any of the characters change, for better or worse,
by the end of the book?

6 – Was it right for children to be given away to other
families for political reasons? This was a policy that lasted for some time in
Spain even after the war ended. How would you feel about losing your child that
way?

7 – The way women were treated at that time was not good.
They had a poor education and were not permitted to take a job without the
permission of their father or husband. There were similar issues in the UK up
to the end of WWII. Are women now treated as equals or are there still issues
needing attention?

8 – Charlotte’s relationship with her stepfather was never
good. Sophie’s relationship with Jo, her alleged stepmother, wasn’t easy either
but did improve. Why do you think that was?

9 – Does the time-shift from past to present add more
mystery to the story?

10 - Were these women right to remain silent and aim
to be forgotten women?